Homeward bound

Good news! This afternoon I found out I am going home Friday!! I am excited. It's the small things that excite me: sleeping in our bed, not being awakened to have my vital signs checked at 4 a. m., coffee when I want it etc. that make the difference. And of course, the best is being home with Ray and Abby. It will be much easier to catch up on school work I am behind on from home as well.

Everyone here at Kent Regency has been wonderful. The care has been fantastic. The staff's understanding and sympathy is abundant as we struggle with pain and frustration.

Everyone here asks how I feel about going home, any concerns, questions? My biggest concern is my own ability to faithfully do my home program of exercises. By his grace, I am able.

There's a certain nostalgia we all feel about returning home whenever we've been away for a time. Jesus' words in the gospel of John are a good reminder for me, for all of us when we experience those times of insecurity and fear. "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:23). We all need a security blanket at times.

A prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

Scot McKcKnight over at Jesus Creed (http://www.jesuscreed.org/) posted this great prayer this morning. Sometimes my mind feels like mush. Especially since surgery and rehab, I find it difficult to focus at times.

A traditional students' prayer:

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator,
true source of light and fountain of wisdom!
Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect,
dissipate the darkness which covers me,
that of sin and of ignorance.
Grant me a penetrating mind to understand,
a retentive memory,
method and ease in learning,
the lucidity to comprehend,
and abundant grace in expressing myself.
Guide the beginning of my work,
direct its progress,
and bring it to successful completion.
This I ask through Jesus Christ,
true God and true man,
living and reigning with You
and the Father, forever and ever.

Amen.

That says it all.

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Report: After rehab week 1 or where did that Mac truck come from?

I have been making great progress with rehab after a total knee replacement. In one week, I have gone from not being able to move my leg to permission to walk (with walker) unassisted throughout the facility. I can't help bur think of the Southwest ads, "You're now free to move about the country," or for me, the facility. Last week, I could not slide my heel toward me (aka doing a heel slide) and now I can get out of bed unassisted. A week ago, my leg bent 60 degrees out of 90 and now it's 76 out of 90 degrees. Progress does not come without pain, however.

The big turning point was yesterday, which began with the Mac truck. With knee replacement, it's essential to get and keep the joint moving so it doesn't freeze. To accomplish that requires aggressive, often painful therapy. Yesterday as my PT Charlie was pushing to get that bend to where it needs to be, it involved pain like I have never experienced in my 52 years. I cried. Dear Charlie, along with two other therapists are fellow members of the body of Christ. He was so apologetic. At least even in pain I am surrounded by God's grace incarnated through his people.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).

God's faithfulness and cognitave dissonance

God is faithful. He does not require of us more than he gives us strength for. The reality of daily life sometimes makes us wonder. Case in point: I am struggling greatly to catch up on school work from last week when I was in the hospital and began rehab. The factors which have increased the difficulty of doing so are working around physical and occupational therapy (twice I lost some work on a lab for biology), exhaustion from therapy and pain meds, as well as visitors like my wonderful husband as well as friends.

Among the blessings of my stay at Kent Regency Rehab has been meeting physical therapists Ed, Hunter and Charlie, wonderful fellow travelers in the journey of faith. In our conversations, I have been reminded of Don Moen's song, "God Will Make a Way." In an online search of the words for Charlie, I came across this YouTube of it at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOjYR8UZT8.

Again I am reminded.

Emanuel and John 13:35

Witnessing the community of faith living the call of John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another," is a thing of beauty. The church being Emanuel, God with us, is a reminder of his great love and faithfulness. During my hospital and rehab stay, we have been overwhelmed by the love of the good people of Emanuel Lutheran Church: meals, support, rides for Ray etc. Great is God's faithfulness and great is our gratitude to our church family.

Living Simply in Abundance

This is one of the most balanced, well thought out posts I've seen in a while on a Christian approach to poverty and living a simpler lifestyle. You will find it at http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/kruse_kronicle/.

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Rich and Poor

Take a look at Bob Robinson's article, "Inequity between the Rich and the Poor" on http://vanguardchurch.blogspot.com/.
It's very thought provoking, calling the church to task regarding the rich and poor. Peace

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Continuing Adventures in Rehab--the Persistant Lady

The adventures of Marie and me at rehab continue. This afternoon, after Ray had left, a frail, elderly woman in a wheelchair turned the corner and entered our room. We kept trying to tell her it wasn't her room...to no avail. She just kept on coming...past my bed over to Marie's. Marie had been relaxedly reading the newspaper, now at the foot of her bed. The woman started pulling at the paper and Marie kept telling her, "No!" Eventually an aide came and took her back to her own area.

Not five minutes later, here she comes again! This time she headed for our bathroom. I thought she'd never be able to manage opening the big door in her wheelchair. Was I ever wrong. Again we rang for help and she was whisked away.

This lady was persistent. We found out she's 104 years old. We should have her energy and determination! Later in the day we were telling Rob, the young nurse about her and in she comes again! Rob took her out into the hallway and was talking to her. The woman was looking at Marie and shaking her finger. She was apparently annoyed the Marie didn't give her the paper.

Rob returned her to the hallway where her room is and shut the hallway doors. All in all, it made for a good laugh later.

Marie and me

I was praying about who my roommate would be and asking God's grace that we get along well. He is indeed faithful, even in the small things. Marie is my roommate. We have an extremely hot room. Our Biology studies this past week on global warming seem quite apropos.

I am always hot, but thankfully, so is Marie. We both arrived at rehab on Thursday. We died from the heat and were both soaking wet by morning after sleeping all night in our sauna...I mean room. Even Ray found it very hot here. Friday we met many people: dietitian, physical and occupational therapists, activities director...you name it. More importantly though, we learned the secret of cooling off the room, which involved turning off the heat entirely and opening a window. But, if we left our door open, the heat would come into our room from the hallway and would overheat the room. When we are way too hot: the window is open, the heat off and the door closed.

We kept saying imagine if one of us was always cold and the other hot! We would both be miserable. As it is, our room is now quite comfortable. An aide walked in today and asked if we'd like our window closed. In unison we responded, "No!"

There are other ways in which we get along quite nicely. She enjoys classical and choral music. This morning we listened to Richard Gladwell's "With Heart and Voice" on my laptop. One of the aides walked in and commented on how much she enjoys classical music and used to study by it in college. "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" (Amos 3:3). Or in our case "room together."

Things which could have been a source of friction and frustration are those things upon which we agree. We are even on the same schedule for our pain meds!



Photos from http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0060-0502-1000-3715.html
and http://www.wxxi.org/whv/.

Before and after

Now that I'm on the other side of my surgery last Monday, I can say I have a new knee! This is what a typical healthy knee looks like. In meeting with my husband Ray, after the surgery, the doctor used a very technical term describing some of what he found around my knee: junk! Apparently due to said junk, the procedure was not so straightforward.

Sparing you all the gory details, suffice it to say that I am at a very nice rehab facility close to the hospital and I am improving daily. I get around pretty good with my walker. This is what my knee looks like now--well a knee, not mine specifically.

" I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Ps 139:14).



pictures from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PTG_P.jpeg and http://www.righthealth.com/Health/Picture_Of_A_Knee/-od-images_1-s.

Surgery

Hi,

This is just to let you know that the blog will be quiet for a bit. I am having a total knee replacement done Mon., 1/14 and will be away from a computer and internet access for a few days. Once I'm settled in the rehab facility I will be back.

Peace.

Basking in the Light of Christ

Today, in the old calendar, we celebrate the Octave Day of Epiphany, and in the new calendar, we celebrate the Baptism of Christ. The lesson read for the Epistle for the former is "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." For the latter, we celebrate our illumination in Christ in our own baptism, as we are joined with Christ's baptism. I had the great privilege of attending the baptism of a parishioner yesterday (who was born just before Christmas), and the lighting of the baptismal candle from the Paschal candle is a moving part of the ritual. Truly, at this time, we should take the time to bask in the light of Christ.

Here is a picture of what that basking in Christ's light looks like:

We should be as eager to soak up the light of Christ as Clem (my feline houseguest) is to soak up the sunlight.

The Voice

We've all heard the voice. You know: the one a parent uses and you know y0u're in trouble now. Or the unmistakable voices of Barry White or James Earl Jones. Or the friend's voice when there so much brokenness in your life, family, marriage and no one can do anything to fix it, but just hearing the love and concern in that voice somehow helps.

Psalm 29:3-9 (http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=67154999) speaks of God's voice.

"The voice of the Lord
is over the waters...
is powerful...
full of majesty...
breaks the cedars...
flashes forth flames of fire...
shakes the wilderness...
causes the oaks to whirl...
strips the forests bare."

The psalmist here speaks of a strong voice. Sometimes we need that strength when we are weak.
It is the voice of the God who speaks things into being...of the eternal Word incarnated among us.

It's important to recognize the voice we are hearing.
Parents know their child's voice.
Lovers know the beloved's voice.
The sheep know the shepherd's voice.

"⁴⁵He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:3-5).

Tuesday night was confirmation at Emanuel Lutheran Church. Another teacher did the opening. She spoke about the Lord's Prayer and about her recent experiences in prayer. She asked, "Has anyone ever heard God's voice?" No one said a word. She asked Vicar Todd if he ever heard God speak. He acknowledged that he had heard God speak, giving him thoughts and ideas that he knew were from God.

What about us? Do we need comfort from pain and sorrow? Listen for the voice. Do we need direction? Follow the shepherd and listen to the voice. Do we just feel we need to know God better?

Listen. God is calling.


picutures: Iconotec Stock Photography and http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/sheep.html

Friday Feline Houseguest Posting

A coworker is out of town for several weeks, and so from St. Stephen's Day until January 21, her cat is staying with me. The cat is very affectionate, although perhaps not the most energetic cat I've ever met. Here are some pictures.

The first week she stayed with me, here was her favorite spot to sleep:



Here she is modeling some jewelry:



And here is a pose that expresses her personality quite well (my finger over part of the lens expresses my photographic expertise equally well):

Feel Overwhelmed?

"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far mor than all we can ask or imagine" (Eph 3:20).

The countd0wn has begun for several things in my life. Today begins my last undergrad semester. I graduate May 10th!! One week from today I will have a total knee replacement (my left). In August we will pack up and move to Gettysburg Seminary and begin a new academic, social and spiritual life there.

What I've been mostly a bit nervous about lately is the surgery and keeping up with my classwork. I'll be in the hospital 2-3 days, then in an inpatient rehab facility 2-3 weeks. I'm taking three classes, one of which is a four credit class, Biology. I will not have internet access in the hospital, but can read if I'm not too loopy. At the rehab facility I will have plenty of internet access. It will be tricky however doing all the therapy I'll need to do and doing all the school work as well. It's easy to worry and fret.

"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine" (Eph 2: 20). Yeah, I know that, but today that was the scripture I spent time meditating on and it came alive to me. For me it is "Now to him who by the power at work within me is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all I can ask or imagine."

Ah, an epiphany. He is God and I am not. So, I will do what I need to do and leave the results in his capable hands.

The Bible. The New Revised Standard Version.

Epiphany: Moving from Meaning One to Meaning Three

Main Entry:

epiph·a·ny

Pronunciation:

\i-ˈpi-fə-nē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural epiph·a·nies

Etymology:

Middle English epiphanie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin epiphania,epiphaneiaepiphainein to manifest, from epi- + phainein to show — more at fancy from Late Greek, plural, probably alteration of Greek appearance, manifestation, from

Date:

14th century

1 capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ

2: an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being

3 a (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b: a revealing scene or moment 1.

That's the dictionary definition. Last night at Emanuel a small group of us gathered for an amazing Epiphany service. It began outdoors with a fire and three children dressed as the Magi. The paschal candle was lit from the fire and with it other individual candles were lit. The paschal candle with its light led us into the worship space followed by the cross, the Magi, Vicar Todd and the congregation.

The music was wonderful as we sang together, "We Three Kings," "Of the Father's Love Begotten," and other hymns. The sending hymn was a rousing version of "We are Marching in the Light of God."

As we initially gathered outside, it was for meaning one of the definition of Epiphany. Moving through the service and in retrospect thinking about its impact, we slowly moved to the third meaning. Thanks be to God.




1. Merriam Webster Online. Epiphany. Online: http://www.m-w.com/ [7 January 2008].

A new website!

The New England Synod of the Women of the ELCA now has its own website!. There you will find links to events that you missed, current happenings, as well as up coming events. Check My del.icio.us list on the sidebar. The url is http://www.nesynod.org/Women/women.htm.

It's a very user friendly and informative site. Please check it out.

New Year's Time Killers Inventory

This is a very interesting post located at http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2007/cln71231.html.

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How do we "Create a Culture of Mentorship?"

I was just reading this post on the "Gifted for Leadership" blog, "Create a Culture of Mentorship." http://blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/2008/01/create_a_culture_of_mentorship.html#more
In this area, how are we doing as a church? It seems that this is part of our call. If we are to "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19), isn't mentoring a large part of making disciples and helping those disciples to grow?

What do/don't your churches do in this area? Thursday evening our Christian Education Committee will be working on a mentoring program for our confirmands. Any suggestions?

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